Namco Bandai updates 2006 release calendar

Namco Bandai Games America today unveiled an updated release calendar for 2006, and with the exception of a few notable titles missing, there were few surprises.

The PlayStation 2 is the publisher's favorite platform with 11 titles hitting shelves this year, followed by the PC and PSP, with seven and five games, respectively. According to the calendar there won't be much for next-generation systems from the new company, aside from the Xbox 360's Frame City Killer, due out in the second half of 2006. The calendar did not mention anything about either of Namco Bandai's two PlayStation 3 games, Gundam World and a next-gen Tekken.

There was a bit of shuffling for games on Nintendo's new handheld. DS owners will be able to get their Tamagotchi on a few weeks earlier, as Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop DS will now be released on January 31, two weeks before its previous date of February 14. Mage Knight: Destiny's Soldier, a turn-based strategy role-playing game, moved from a nebulous 2006 shipping date to spring 2006. The DS version of Curious George, based on the upcoming film hitting theaters February 10, did not make the release calendar. Though Namco did not outright say the game has been canceled, it's unclear whether George will be monkeying around on the DS.

On the PC side, Warhammer: Mark of Chaos is now scheduled for a fall 2006 release, and Mage Knight: Apocalypse has been pushed back to spring 2006. Stargate SG-1: The Alliance, plagued with legal troubles after issues between developer Perception and European publisher JoWood sprang up, was noticeably MIA.

Fans of the anime Cowboy Bebop may have to play with their action figures a bit longer. The game, which made its debut at 2004's E3, was delayed to 2005 but never made it into stores. Online retailer EBGames.com shows the game as having a March release date and the game's Web site says "coming soon," but its absence on Namco's official release calendar may mean its future is in doubt.

Namco's announced 2006 lineup is as follows:

PlayStation 2
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Curious George -- February 1, 2006 -- Action Adventure
Tales of Legendia -- February 7, 2006 -- RPG
MS Saga -- February 2006 -- RPG
Payout Poker and Casino -- Q1 2006 -- Arcade Gambling
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War -- Spring 2006 -- Air Combat
MotoGP4 -- Spring 2006 -- Racing Simulation
Naruto: Narutimate Hero (working title) -- Summer 2006 -- Action
Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked -- Spring 2006 -- Action
Pac-Man World Rally -- Summer 2006 -- Kart Racing
Snoopy vs. The Red Baron -- Fall 2006 -- Aerial Adventure
.hack//GU Part 1 -- 2006 -- RPG

PSP
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Me and My Katamari -- March 2006 -- Action
Payout Poker and Casino -- Q1 2006 -- Arcade Gambling
Bounty Hounds -- Spring 2006 -- Action
Pac-Man World Rally -- Summer 2006 -- Kart Racing
Snoopy vs. The Red Baron -- Fall 2006 -- Aerial Adventure

Xbox
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Curious George -- February 1, 2006 -- Action Adventure
Payout Poker and Casino -- Q1 2006 -- Arcade Gambling
Pac-Man World Rally -- Summer 2006 -- Kart Racing
Snoopy vs. The Red Baron -- Fall 2006 -- Aerial Adventure

Xbox 360
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Frame City Killer -- 2006 -- Action

GameCube
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Curious George -- February 1, 2006 -- Action Adventure
Pac-Man World Rally -- Summer 2006 -- Kart Racing

Nintendo DS
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop DS -- January 31, 2006 -- Simulation
Mage Knight: Destiny's Solider -- Spring 2006 -- Turn-based Strategy

Game Boy Advance
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Curious George -- February 1, 2006 -- Action Adventure

PC
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Curious George -- February 1, 2006 -- Action Adventure
Payout Poker and Casino -- Q1 2006 -- Arcade Gambling
Mage Knight: Apocalypse -- Spring 2006 -- Action RPG
Pac-Man World Rally -- Summer 2006 -- Kart Racing
Snoopy vs. The Red Baron -- Fall 2006 -- Aerial Adventure
Warhammer: Mark of Chaos -- Fall 2006 -- Real-Time Strategy
Hellgate: London -- TBD -- RPG